The post-COVID19 world - what will the "new normal" look like?

loubnaniTO

Legendary Member

It is becoming increasingly likely that after we conquer Covid-19, the "new normal" might be different than the normal we have been used to in the past few decades (or even century). What will be different?

- will we have new habits? - new social etiquette? - will the workplace be the same? will working from home become more tolerated/encouraged? - will companies fast track their reliance on automation and AI (to avoid future shutdowns)? - will schooling structures be the same? - will sports events evolve? - will we shop differently? new platforms (online, deliveries, pick ups)? new shopping habits? will we appreciate more the essentials? going back to the roots? - will our social fabric change? new cults? a bigger divide between religious and non religious people? more or less discrimination/tolerance?

Many questions.... discuss.

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Rafidi

Legendary Member

It is becoming increasingly likely that after we conquer Covid-19, the "new normal" might be different than the normal we have been used to in the past few decades (or even century). What will be different?

- will we have new habits? - new social etiquette? - will the workplace be the same? will working from home become more tolerated/encouraged? - will companies fast track their reliance on automation and AI (to avoid future shutdowns)? - will schooling structures be the same? - will sports events evolve? - will we shop differently? new platforms (online, deliveries, pick ups)? new shopping habits? will we appreciate more the essentials? going back to the roots? - will our social fabric change? new cults? a bigger divide between religious and non religious people? more or less discrimination/tolerance?

So are we really going to conquer covid19? Or are we going to adjust living with it like we do alongside other viral diseases?

If we conquer the virus and there is no positive case, which doesnt seem any time soon, then we will return to normal. Within a few months, everyone will forget what had happened. To forget is part of human nature.

If we are made to live with it till a vaccine or cure is found, then there would be partial reopening around the world with safety measures in place...wearing masks would be made a law.

But since your thread is based on the thought that we would defeat the virus, then in a matter of months after victory, everything would go back to normal like nothing happened.

loubnaniTO

Legendary Member

So are we really going to conquer covid19? Or are we going to adjust living with it like we do alongside other viral diseases?

If we conquer the virus and there is no positive case, which doesnt seem any time soon, then we will return to normal. Within a few months, everyone will forget what had happened. To forget is part of human nature.

If we are made to live with it till a vaccine or cure is found, then there would be partial reopening around the world with safety measures in place...wearing masks would be made a law.

But since your thread is based on the thought that we would defeat the virus, then in a matter of months after victory, everything would go back to normal like nothing happened.

dyyyy

Well-Known Member

It is becoming increasingly likely that after we conquer Covid-19, the "new normal" might be different than the normal we have been used to in the past few decades (or even century). What will be different?

- will we have new habits? - new social etiquette? - will the workplace be the same? will working from home become more tolerated/encouraged? - will companies fast track their reliance on automation and AI (to avoid future shutdowns)? - will schooling structures be the same? - will sports events evolve? - will we shop differently? new platforms (online, deliveries, pick ups)? new shopping habits? will we appreciate more the essentials? going back to the roots? - will our social fabric change? new cults? a bigger divide between religious and non religious people? more or less discrimination/tolerance?

I think after a while the pandemic will end, but the trauma from it will have repercussions.

One think that happened during this epidemic is that rich countries found out that they can't throw money at any problem and solve it. From now on, rich countries will have a bigger priority to be more independent and self relient in food, medication and healthcare equipment (All countries will have this priority but only rich countries with lower corruption will be able to do it)

On the education level, I think online courses will become more prevalent since they proved to be a feasible alternative

People will get more and more comfortable shopping online, because the ones that had to do it during this pandemic will have already crossed that barrier

Concerning our habits, don't know if people will get used to living in their homes and skip outings, I hope not

One positive thing is some of the richest people were obliged to have a break from working all the time and had the time to spend with their families, some might enjoy this more relazing and fulfilling lifestyle leaving more opportunities for others who might need them more.

Of course this aside the other scenario where the virus evolves and we all die

HalaMadrid

Active Member

Depending on how long it goes, probably a total breakdown of social order the demise of liberalism everywhere, starting with Europe. And probably its replacement with right wing reactionary authoritarianism. But I'm no pessimist or anything.

Iron Maiden

Paragon of Bacon

Depending on how long it goes, probably a total breakdown of social order the demise of liberalism everywhere, starting with Europe. And probably its replacement with right wing reactionary authoritarianism. But I'm no pessimist or anything.

HalaMadrid

Active Member

Depending on how long it goes, probably a total breakdown of social order the demise of liberalism everywhere, starting with Europe. And probably its replacement with right wing reactionary authoritarianism. But I'm no pessimist or anything.

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shadow1

Legendary Member

The effect of the coronavirus on our daily lives will be too immense to contemplate. In fact you can now divide the modern era into BC and AC the C for the Coronavirus. Unless the virus disappears on its own like many have before (and many didn't) the world will never be the same again. Gatherings for the masses such as sports, theatres, concert halls, shopping centres, places of worship, museums, education centres, nightclubs, restaurants and even home parties will undertake massive changes and much of it will simply disappear. A relic of the past you may have to search for in Jane Austen's books.

. In addition travel and tourism will be curtailed immensely. Who'd wanna go to Italy or France or Spain now? The hotel business will be decimated until a vaccine can be found if at all. Also socially people will not be too eager to make new friends and their treatment of their existing friends will be riddled with suspicion, caution and even fear.

Worse still people will have this sword hanging over their head, the untimely death of close friends and relatives. Yes death will become a familiar event in all our lives. You will hear more of funerals than weddings unless you live in any arab countries.

Even people's sexual habits will undergo enourmous changes. One night stands are a thing of the past, Pornhub is the future so it don't make any difference if you are a prince or a frog, Fidelity might be back in and that is catastrophic for men. And sadly still, being rich will lose so much of its lustre as flaunting your material wealth will generate less than sincere admiration and more of indifference. Mere survival is the name of the game. Even trips to the gym will replace their good reason for a silly one.

So how do you try to manage to come out ahead in the new world order? Chastity, humility, contentment with what you got wil lbe forced on you and after your initial resentment you'll remember staying well and alive is the new game. Often times you will feel like you a trapped in a dark room with a tiger who you can hear moving surreptitiously but cannot see.

Effectively look at life in Saudi Arabia now and you can see the future. And as far as elections are concerned, tthe Lebanese political class hit the jackpot again. No more. Might as well pass a law now that every MP designates a male next of kin to take his place when the coronavirus lifts him up to hell.

Last edited: May 9, 2020

Nevermore

New Member

In my assessment, we’ll be seeing the acceleration of the deteriorating social institutions and an intensifying duality of the state’s role in public, at least in liberal democratic countries, a phenomenon that didn’t start with COVID-19.

In one lens, we see increased pressure placed on governments to reflexively meet the needs of an exposed populace (though, I would say, in many cases, it’s belatedly reactive, not reflexive), and in another lens, we see the populace reacting in two ways. One, it’s taking precautions and adjusting, using intuition and critical faculties to survive. Two, it’s resisting the change to a way of life that’s so familiar, an alternative is unfathomable.

What I mean by institutional decay is 1) the ability of government to work independently of private interests, 2) the ability of government institutions to respond effectively, and 3) such institutions (healthcare, school systems, small businesses) maintain a stable existence where they are able to function and thrive without great risk or fear of collapse. In many cases, we’ve seen these institutions’ capacities hollowed (1, 2).

Further, institutional response creates a lack of voter trust and confidence in such institutions, leading to even more reliance on self and market, an unstable equation. Eroding public confidence in government gets displayed in media narratives on the issue and their portrayals of public officials’ incompetence. Preoccupied with debunking whether bleach is ingestible and whether cities can reopen or not, powerholders use an obliging media coverage to divert the public’s attention from one that is informative to one that is distractive. Thus, rendering government response ineffective not only in application, but in perception as well.

This is obviously very US-centric, but I think we’re seeing the role of the state move further away from the responsibility of protecting the public.